Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-07-12

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Burcu: "All TRNC citizens will become citizens of the Federal Republic of Cyprus"; He reportedly allayed the worries of the Turkish nationalists

[02] Ak?nc? met with the British High Commissioner

[03] Ertugruloglu in London to have meetings at the UK Parliament

[04] "Solution is in difficulty"

[05] The occupation army still prevents excavations for finding missing persons

[06] Akinci claimed that some distorted media reports from the Greek Cypriot press create a tension in their community

[07] The "ruling" on the establishment of the "coordination office" will be announced on August 5

[08] Turkish Airlines launched daily direct flights between Antalya and the occupied airport of Tymbou

[09] Y?ld?r?m: "No reason for Turkey to fight with neighboring countries"

[10] Turkey to appoint an Ambassador to Israel after parliamentary approval of deal

[11] Kurtulmus: "Turkey has not taken official or unofficial steps to normalize ties with Egypt"

[12] Turkish columnist evaluates Turkey's U-turn in foreign policy and argues that Turkey will surprise those considering the Cyprus problem as a difficult obstacle

[13] Turkish daily reportedly supports that ISIL transfers suicide bombers from Syria to Europe through Azerbaijan and Cyprus

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Burcu: "All TRNC citizens will become citizens of the Federal Republic of Cyprus"; He reportedly allayed the worries of the Turkish nationalists

"The truth is the following: All citizenships given until today by both sides will automatically become citizenships of the united federal Cyprus. It is out of the question for any citizen to be deprived of this common right in any manner. All TRNC citizens will become citizens of the Federal Republic of Cyprus".

Noting that the issue of citizenship has been settled between the leaders, Burcu added:

"Both sides shared information and numbers in front of the UN regarding the citizenships they granted until today. These numbers have been registered in the minutes. The picture which has come up is that the existing 220 thousand TRNC citizens and 802 thousand citizens of south Cyprus Greek administration will automatically become citizens of the Federal Republic of Cyprus without taking into consideration any other criterion. Consensus has been reached on this issue. Efforts are exerted to drag the issue elsewhere by discussing proportions".

Burcu claimed that "this is the best stage ever reached in the negotiations on the citizenship issue for the Turkish side" and recalled a statement made by Akinci before his "election" that he would make no discriminations among their "citizens" and that all their existing "citizens" will become citizens of the federal state.

Referring to the four freedoms, Burcu argued that the basis on this issue are the UN parameters which came up from the negotiations carried out until today including the 1977-79 High Level Agreements and the 11 February document. He added that this basis is also included in the UN Security Council's Resolutions for Cyprus. He claimed:

"The four freedoms issue will not be contrary to the UN parameters. Efforts are exerted for creating the distorted impression that the issue of the four freedoms will be implemented in a way that the parameters of the UN, which are carrying out the process, will be abolished. These are freedoms which the EU also values, but the basic thing is the UN parameters [?]".

Arguing that bi-zonality and bi-communality constitute the basis of these parameters, Burcu said:

"The relation between bi-zonality and bi-communality and the four freedoms in the solution to be reached will be adjusted in a manner which protects bi-zonality and bi-communality. The founding state will have the power to regulate the freedom of obtaining property in its own area. This power will belong to the founding state. This and all the adjustments regarding the other freedoms will be under the responsibility of the founding state in a manner which will not constitute a threat to bi-zonality and bi-communality. We will of course be open to the freedoms within the framework which will protect the clear majority of population and property".

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (12.07.16) reports that with these statements Burcu "allayed the worries of the nationalistic front". In its column "The hero of the day", the paper notes, inter alia, the following:

"[?] Burcu said that all TRNC citizens will become citizens of the Federal Republic of Cyprus. This has actually also been said in the past, but the nationalists are somehow not calming down. Has the Greek Cypriot side not accepted 220 thousand Turkish Cypriots? It has. The origin of at least 100 thousands of these 220 thousands is it not from Turkey? Then what? In our view, there is nothing new in Baris Burcu's statements. Anyway, he is making these statements more relaxed than in the past. It seems that he also understood that no result could be reached in the negotiations".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ak?nc? met with the British High Commissioner

Ak?nc?'s "private secretary" Cenk Gurcag and his "advisor for political affairs and history" Meltem Onurkan Samani were also present at the meeting held at the so-called presidential palace.

No statement was issued before or after the meeting.

[03] Ertugruloglu in London to have meetings at the UK Parliament

According to a press release, Ertugruloglu, within the framework of his contacts in London, will have some meetings and hold discussions at the UK Parliament. He will also meet with the Turkish Ambassador to London Abdurrahman Bilgic and the administration of the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations in Britain (CTCA). Ertugruloglu is accompanied by the so-called undersecretary of the "foreign affairs ministry" Mustafa Lakadamyali.

(DPs)

[04] "Solution is in difficulty"

The paper argues that the possibility of finding a solution in 2016 is continuously decreasing and that the sides have not covered the necessary distance for achieving this target.

Sources told Havadis that both leaders realize the "risks and the complications" which will come up in case the solution hangs over to 2017 and that the intensification of the talks as of the end of August is on the agenda. If in the negotiations to be held this month the leaders finalize the chapters of governance and power sharing, property, economy and EU, the issues of territory and guarantees will be discussed in September. This will be tantamount to turning the target of a solution in 2016 into an attainable target again, writes the paper.

(I/Ts.)

[05] The occupation army still prevents excavations for finding missing persons

Under the title "Akinci said excavate, the General said no", the paper notes that "the army commander and not chief commander Akinci rules the roast on missing persons issue as well".

The paper's publisher, Sener Levent writes that according to eyewitnesses, 90 missing persons are buried in the graveyard of Stavros Church in the occupied fenced off city of Varosha, but the army does not give permission for excavations there as well.

"The archives of the Turkish army are needed in order for reaching definite information regarding the missing persons", he notes adding that "for now Turkey allows no one to come close to these archives".

(I/Ts.)

[06] Akinci claimed that some distorted media reports from the Greek Cypriot press create a tension in their community

Akinci added: "However, we are still abide by our commitments and continue our path without deviating from our directions. Of course, it does not mean that the community will remain uniformed". He further said that they will continue to do the necessary things in order to keep correctly informed their public regarding the negotation process.

(DPs)

[07] The "ruling" on the establishment of the "coordination office" will be announced on August 5

The lawyer of the "presidency" Gozde Ugrasin, in the first hearing of the trial yesterday said that the "law" and the "additional protocol" are in violation of the "constitution". On the other hand, the lawyer Serhan Cinar on behalf of the "assembly" argued that the "coordination office" will be beneficial for the youth of both "countries" and its activities will be carried out with the cooperation of the two "countries".

The so-called attorney general Ilker Koyuncuoglu claimed that the "ratified law" regarding the "coordination office" is not in violation of the "constitution" as lawyer Ugrasin said, however it is in violation with the "internal regulations" of the "assembly".

The "constitutional court" adjourned the trial to August 5, when the decision will be announced.

(DPs)

[08] Turkish Airlines launched daily direct flights between Antalya and the occupied airport of Tymbou

(DPs)

[09] Y?ld?r?m: "No reason for Turkey to fight with neighboring countries"

Y?ld?r?m stated that Turkey intends to mend ties with all the countries in the region including Iraq, Syria and Egypt to spread peace across the world.

"We had strained relations with Israel, which could return to normal after receiving an apology and compensation. However, the essential condition for us has been the improvement of the conditions for Palestinians so, we refused to settle for a deal without a step on this matter".

Y?ld?r?m said that the current agreement providing tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza City is a result of Turkey's determined stance on the Palestinian cause.

Commenting on relations with Russia, Y?ld?r?m said that Turkish and Russian people have been discontent with the crisis between the two countries and the Turkish administration has taken steps to normalize ties after seeing the public's reaction.

"We will continue to improve ties with our neighbors. There is no reason for us to fight with Iraq, Syria or Egypt but we need to take our cooperation with them further, Yildirim argued.

[10] Turkey to appoint an Ambassador to Israel after parliamentary approval of deal

"The deal will become official after the parliamentary approval. The appointment of the Ambassador and other steps as part of the normalization process will be realized after the [deal's] approval. The Foreign Ministry is continuing its works on this," Kurtulmus told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting on July 11.

Turkey and Israel ended a six-year rift over the Mavi Marmara incident through an agreement on June 28 and agreed to normalize ties. The agreement will be put into force after the Turkish Parliament's ratification.

[11] Kurtulmus: "Turkey has not taken official or unofficial steps to normalize ties with Egypt"

Kurtulmus' remarks came in response to a question over whether Turkey was planning to dispatch a governmental team to Egypt as stated by Saban Disli, a senior Justice and Development Party (AKP) official, last week.

"I want to repeat what we have been saying from the very beginning. The peoples of Turkey and Egypt are brothers. It's out of the question for us to be an enemy of the people of Egypt and to keep ourselves apart from them," Kurtulmus said. "Why has the relationship between Turkey and Egypt arrived at this point?" asked Kurtulmus, showing the military coup staged in 2013 to oust Mohamed Morsi, the country's first democratically elected leader, from power as the main reason for the deterioration of bilateral ties.

"The relations between Turkey and Egypt have been hurt because of this. The government of the Republic of Turkey has suspended ties with Egypt because we are against military coups," he added.

Life sentences issued against so many people, civilians and democratically-elected politicians, including Morsi, are unacceptable, Kurtulmus said, adding: "Therefore, we of course want to normalize our relations with Egypt but it's perhaps a must for the [military] coup regime that shelved democracy and chucked it out to examine its actions."

(?)

[12] Turkish columnist evaluates Turkey's U-turn in foreign policy and argues that Turkey will surprise those considering the Cyprus problem as a difficult obstacle

Various perception operations and black propaganda methods are being conducted in Europe almost every day against Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The media outlets in some EU countries, particularly Germany and the U.K., are endeavoring to deceive the public by penning lies about Turkey.

Despite all the obnoxious attacks and smear campaigns, Erdogan has preserved his determined stance without making any concessions and keeps contributing to Turkey's bright future. The abovementioned groups are getting even more ill-tempered in the face of this determination.

But all their efforts are in vain.

Erdogan and other authorities in Turkey are observing all these efforts with smiles on their faces. Turkish citizens do not give any credence to the heinous aspersions cast on Turkey. Neither do they care about the treason of some people who are of Turkish origin for their own interests nor the threatening statements of some EU countries' officials.

Turkey is determinedly maintaining its progress and the rest of the story does not matter.

(?)

This is the exact context Turkey is currently in. A Prime Minister of an EU country said that Turkey would join the EU in the year 3000. Another Prime Minister said they would leave the EU if Turkey joins it. European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that they would not negotiate the visa liberalization issue with Ankara unless Turkey decreases its attacks on the outlawed PKK. For the 970th time, the European Parliament issued the decision that Turkey cannot join the EU and kicked off efforts to reward PKK supporters. These factors do not affect the Turkish authorities or citizens any longer. Regardless of the concerns about joining the EU, Turkey is taking firm steps toward evolving into a more democratic, social and powerful country. No one in Turkey grieves when the EU does not take a positive step on Turkey. If Turkey joins the EU, this would favor both parties. But if the membership process is hampered due to a mistake by the EU, Turkey will still be in a position to create its own alternatives, and this position is becoming increasingly solidified.

(?)

In a nutshell, while some EU countries flirt with the PKK and while European Parliament often hosts PKK supporters as guests, Turkey has not stepped back and successfully maintains its counterterrorism fight. Some groups in the EU made false calculations and observed Turkey's problems with Israel and Russia with pleasure. They welcomed Turkey's diplomatic strain with Russia and Israel as developments undermining Turkey and wished for those crises to sharpen. They left Turkey alone against Russia even though Turkey was right to shoot down the jet.

But now they are watching Turkey's diplomatic achievements with surprise. The anti-Turkey groups are getting depressed as Turkey gradually resolves its problems with Israel, and even the Palestinians are able to breathe more easily thanks to Turkey's successful diplomatic steps. The re-establishment of relations with Russia after positive talks has almost shocked them.

Nevertheless, this is only the beginning. The next goal is to re-establish relations with Egypt. Those who think that Turkey is alone in the region and surrounded only by foes are mistaken.

Turkey is sure to continue surprising everyone. Those who regard the Cyprus issue as a difficult obstacle for Turkey will also be surprised.

Turkey maintains its determined progress step by step".

[13] Turkish daily reportedly supports that ISIL transfers suicide bombers from Syria to Europe through Azerbaijan and Cyprus

According to Milliyet, Turkish intelligence officials, who cooperated with foreign intelligence services, determined that ISIL recently tasked its militants from Azerbaijan and the Northern Caucasus to carry out attacks in Turkey and Azerbaijan. ISIL planned attacks in Turkey and Europe after suffering defeats in the hands of U.S.-led coalition forces in Syria, the report also said.

The jihadist group planned to continue targeting Turkey, due to the latter apprehending the former's members and carrying out operations against it, according to the intelligence officials.

In addition, it was determined that ISIL formed a group of 20 to 25 militants in Syria and tried to send them to Turkey a short while ago after the IDs of a number of its militants were exposed in operations carried out in the country. The General Directorate of Security sent a warning notice to provincial security directorates in April regarding these developments, according to reports.

The General Directorate of Security reportedly sent another warning concerning ISIL attackers from Azerbaijan and the Caucasus in June, saying the militants were planning suicide attacks in Turkey and Azerbaijan. The aforementioned militants planned to attack police officers and their families in Azerbaijan, the report said.

Meanwhile, another warning which was sent to provincial security directorates after ISIL's attack on Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on June 28, which left 45 people dead and scores wounded, reportedly informed the police on the jihadist group's new targets in Turkey. The warning, which was sent on June 30, stressed that ISIL militants in Ankara and Istanbul were planning attacks on military and police buildings with bomb-laden cars.

ISIL wanted to assassinate Kurdish public officials, journalists and military and intelligence officials working in Ankara, Istanbul and the western province of Izmir, the warning also said.

Turkey has been on high alert, as the country has been rocked by a series of suicide and car bomb attacks which claimed many lives and wounded hundreds. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.pio.gov.cy

(AK/ AM)

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